Canning machine



Aug. 11, 1931. c. H. AYARS CANNING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1929 INVENTOR: Ljzarleafl. (ya

ATTORNEY:

CANNING MACHINE Filed Mrch 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES. INVENTOR:

W 8 8 Charles flLZj ara Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT .orl-"lcr.

' CHARLES H. AYARS, or NEW JERsEY, ASSIGNOR TO AYARS MACHINE coM- PANY, E SALEM, NEW JERsEY, A CORPO ATION or NEW JERSEY CANNING MACHINE Application filed March 5,

The present invention relates to machines for filling receptacles with materials and is particularly adapted for use with canning machines where the materials are of a deli cate texture and easily injured if not properly handled.

An object of the invention is to improve machines of this character.

A further object is to provide in a machine of the above character mechanism of such construction and movement that it will effect a uniform fill of receptacles into which material is being deposited without injuring the material being deposited.

Another object is to provide in a machine of this character means for smoothing down the" material being fed from the hopper to receptacles.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved feed of preserving fluid to the. receptacles. I

The above objects are accomplished by providing between a feed hopper and receptacles, known as measuring cups, for receiving materials fed from the hopper, a member movable across theupper ends of said measuring cups in a manner to force the materials 'into the cups without injuring the same and with a movement that will smooth off the top of said material. The said member is of curvilinear shape and is provided with an undercut or pocket, gradually increasing toward the point of departure of the measuring cups from beneath the same where the measuring cups are carried by a movable conveyor as a revoluble turret. This member, for simplicity of reference, may be termed a shaker.

The feeding of material may be assisted by mounting the hopper so that it is free to move through a limited are relative to the shaker, and movement thereof may be accomplished through the frictional contact with the shaker together with the vibrations of'the machine, the movement of the shaker being positively effected through suitable mechanism. When the device is used in a canning machine and where the materials being canned are such as to require a liquid in their preservation, I may provide a funnel 1929. Serial No. 344,329.

or hopper on the shaker beneath the liquid feed'pipe and of an area to always be positioned beneath said pipe regardless of the position of the shaker.

For a better understanding of the principles of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings illustrating one application thereof and in which,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view showing the hopper and the measuring cups in elevation together with the application of my invention thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the same.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan of the shaker member removed from the machine.

Figure iris a vertical section through the hopper and shaker member, the hopper being fragmentarily shown.

Figure 5 is a section through the fluid supply funnel showing the fluid supply pipe in relation thereto.

Referring to the drawings in detail by reference numerals, 1O designates the feed hopper, 11 the measuring cups which are preferably formed in sections, the sections of each cup being secured to turrets designated by the numerals l2 and 13, thesections on the cups being telescopically related as shown.

Located between the hopper and the upper turret 12 is a shaker member 14 constituting an important element in the present invention. The shaker member is provided with a cavity 15 clearly shown in Figure 3 which ,is bent at the top and bottom and provides a passageway from the hopper 10. to the measuring cups. The opening on the top side of the shaker member substantially slot in the head 30 and the shaft 31.

be located at a point diametrically opposite to the connection with the arm 21. The arm 22 is provided at its outer end with a slot 23 in which operates the wrist pin 24 mounted on the disk which disk is mounted upon the shaft 26 for rotation therewith. The shaft 26 is in turn driven in any suitable manner as from the main shaft of the canning machine.

It will be apparent from the construction as set forth that rotation of the shaft 26 will cause a reciprocatory movement of the.

shaker 1 L transversely of the tops of the measuring cups ll, the movement of the shaker being in a circular arc concentric with the shaft 19.

The hopper 10 may also be mounted for limited movement upon the shaft 19 by any suitable means as by a sleeve 27 secured there to by the arm 28, the opposite side of the hopper having an arm 29 extending therefrom which is provided with a slotted head 30 receiving therein a shaft 31. This slot is formed in a direction concentric with the shaft 19 and permits a limited movement of the hopper, the movement thereof being due to the friction between the lower end of the hopper and the shaker member and to any vibration of the machine as a whole. It will be understood in this connection, that the hopper rests on the shaker nieinbei' and is in no way secured thereto, but is free to move within the limits determined by the The extent of this movement may be adjustably limited by means of the set screw 32 extending longitudinally of the slot as shown in Figure 2.

In the canning of certain commodities, as beans and peas, a preserving liquid, as brine, is used and supplied to the cans in a suitable manner and to this endI have provided a supply conduit 33 for liquid of this character controlled by the valves 34: and 35, the valve 34: being designed as a cutoff and the'valve 35 to regulate the amount of fluid flowing through the pipe. Mounted upon the shaker member is a funnel 36 which is positioned below the discharge end of the pipe 33 and is extended sufficiently above the lower end thereof to prevent liquid being discharged in any direction except that intended. This funnel is of suflicient horizontal extent to provide for the maximum horizontal movement of the shaker member and so that the discharge from the pipe 33 will always be taken thereby and directed to the measuring cup that happens to be beneath the discharge. This funnel is removably connected to the shaker member by means of the bolt. 37 extending through the ears 38 and suitable apertures in the shaker member as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the ears 38 being struck up in a manner to present the lower surface of the hopper support 36 in the same plane as the portions of the shaker member to which it is attached. The funnel 36 is located directly above the discharge of the measuring cups so that the fluid is directed through the funnel and measuring cups to the can being filled.

The upper turret 12 is secured to a central shaft 39 and the two turrets are rotated thereby. As the turrets rotate, the cups are filled from the hopper 10 and as they move under the shaker member, the material is gradually smoothed down and compressed within the cups by the movement of the shaker thereover; the gradual slope of the walls of the shaker member and the lateral deepening of the cavity giving an effect as of the human hand being passed over the cups and gradually forcing the material thereinto. The shape of this cavity and the walls thereof are such as to prevent the breaking or mutilation of fruits, as tomatoes or the shearing off of the ends of beans or other vegetables and gives a result of uniformly filled cans and enables the producer to present to the trade a commodity of uniform quality and unmutilated fruit.

The shaping of the hopper 10 in the manner set forth above insures the gravitation of the fruit or vegetables therein and toward the measuring cups. The funnel 36 functions to prevent the slopping over of the brine or other preserving liquid used in the canning of beans, peas and the like, and insures its direction to the cans regardless of the'temporary position of the shaker member.

l Vhile my invention as herein described is applied to a canning machine, it is to be understood that it has application to all recep' tacle filling machines where it is desired to provide a uniform filling and where the materials being deposited in the receptacles are such as might be injured by compressing and leveling means.

I claim 1. In a receptacle filling machine having measuring cups thereon, a member oscillating across the tops of the cups in series for smoothing off the material in the receptacles and having a progressively inclined com-' pressing wall.

2. In a receptacle filling machine, a hopper, a rotatable measuring cup carrier, cups thereon, a member movable independently of the hopper transversely of the upper portion of the cups and having its opposite sides differently tapered to smooth down material in the receptacles by a gradual application of pres sure thereon.

3. In a receptacle filling machine a measuring cup organization revoluble as an entity, and a member mounted to oscillate across the topof the organization as it revolves with cup presenting progress, said member being provided with a progressively inclined compressing wall.

4. In a receptacle filling machine having revoluble measuring cups, a reciprocating member movable transversely across the upper ends of the measuring cups, said member having an undercut gradually deepening radially from the point of commencement of the passing of the measuring cup-s thereunder until their emergence therefrom.

5. In a receptacle filling machine, measuring cups carried therein, a member mounted to oscillate above the cups, and a hopper mounted for limited freedom on and independently of said member.

6. In a receptacle filling machine, measuring cups carried thereon, a reciprocable member above said cups and a funnel for directing fluid into said cups secured tosaid reciprocable member, and a supp-1y pipe extending into said funnel.

7 In a receptacle filling machine, a measuring cup carrying unit, means for feeding material to the cups, a member movable across said cups, a funnel on said member discharging into the cups at one position thereof, a liquid supply pipe discharging into said funnel, said funnel having a horizontal extent sulficient to remain positioned beneath the discharge of said pipe for the maximum movement of said member.

8. In a receptacle filling machine, a measuring cup supporting member, measuring cups on said member, a second member reciprocably mounted to move across the tops of said cups, a supply hopper, discharging through said second member into said cups, said hopper being mounted on said second member for limited freedom of movement, a discharge above said second member and a funnel on said member of suflicient horizontal expanse to be positioned beneath said discharge for all positions of said second member. Y

9. In a receptacle filling machine, a hopper, a carrying support with measuring cups 45 thereon, a member movable across the tops of said cups independently of the hopper, said member having a progressively inclined compressing wall and hinged at one side and having a slotted arm secured to the opposite side, and means coacting with said slot to oscillate the arm.

10. In a receptacle filling machine, a measuring cup carrying support with measuring cups thereon, a member movable across the tops of said cups, said member being hinged at one side and having a slotted arm secured to the opposite side, a rotatable disc, a pin eccentrically secured thereto and riding in said slot, a hopper discharging into the cups m and resting on said member, said hopper being hinged at one side and having a slotted arm extending from the other side, and a stop extending through said slot.

11. In a receptacle filling machine, a'measuring cup carrier with measuring cups thereon, a-hollowmember movable transs versely of the cups and substantially in contact with the upper ends thereof, said memberhaving a lateral-recess'on itslower side with" smoothly curved walls and gradually increasing in lateral extent, a hopper resting on= said member and discharging therethrough to the cups, means causing reciprocation of said member,-and means providinglimited movement of'the hopper under inmember. 1

'12. In a receptacle filling machine, a measuring ;:c,up carrier with, measuring cups thereon, a hollow member movable transversely of, the cups'andsubstantially incontact with the upper endsthereof, said member having a lateral recess onits lower side with smoothly curved walls and gradually increasing in lateral extent, a hopper resting on said member and discharging therethrough to the cups, means causing reciprocation of said member, means providing limited movement of the hopper under influence of the reciprocation of said hollow member, and means for supplying fluid to said receptacles, and means on said member for directing said fluid to the receptacles.

13. In a receptacle filling machine, a measuring cup carrier with measuring cups thereon, a hollow member movable transversely of the cups and substantially in con- 7 tact with the upper ends thereof, said member having a lateral recess on its lower side with smoothly curved walls and gradually increasing in lateral extent, a hopper resting on said member and discharging therethrough to the cups, means causing reciprocation of said member, means providing limited movement of the hopper under influence of the reciprocation of said hollow member, means for supplying fluid to said cups, means on said member for directing said fluid to the cups, and means for adjusting the limiting means for said hopper.

14. In a receptacle filling machine, measuring cups carried therein, a hopper posi- 76 fluence-of the reclprocation of sald hollow tioned for discharging into said cups, said I hopper being mounted for limited movement on said machine and means having greater amplitude of movement and frictional driving engagement with the hopper.

15. In a receptacle filling machine, measuring cups, a hopper located above the cups and adapted to deposit material into the cups and a member mounted to oscillate between the hopper and the tops of the cups, and provided with means having varying inclinations adapted to progressively compress material within the cups. 7

16. In a receptacle filling machine, measuring cups, means supporting the cups, a hopper for directing material into said cups,

and means oscillating across the top of the having varying inclination?) progressively compressing the material deposits;

17 In a recptacle filling machine having a rotatable measuring (in-p carrier, at mem her having varying inclinations oscillating across the position of the uppen ends of the cupsduring a portion of the'rotation of the carrier for smoothing off and progressively compressing the contents of the cups;

18. In a receptacle filling. machine, av-measuring cup carrier and measuring cups mounted thereon, a member mountedin position to contact with tops of said cups,-'said member beingpivoted to oscillate across said cups and provided witha progressivelycompressing part ofi varying. inclinations, a slotted arm extending from: said member, and a. wrist pin co-acti with the slot.

In testimony whereo it I have signed my name tothiespeciflcation.

CHARLES AYARS. 

